Reformation

6: Gunshows

I was really confused. "They can't drive us out of our own camp. They don't even have the numbers."

"We don't know their entire plan, but there have been some mysterious deaths lately. We think Beatrice is behind them."

My head was spinning. This was all too much for me. I ran my fingers through my hair.

"I'm sorry, I know it doesn't make sense but I just have to go-"

"I already said. Fifteen more minutes of sleep. You need it. They can handle not having you for fifteen minutes. You could use a shave too." I said as I ran my fingers over his rough chin.

I could tell he was too tired to argue. He just laid down and fell back asleep.

I got up and went outside, closing the door silently so he didn't wake up. I made my way to the building, then to Michael's office.

His door was shut tightly, but I could still see the light under his door. I tried to open it but it was locked. I knocked a few times.

Zoey answered, her green hair was now brown and only her green tips lingered, it was longer now and sticking up all over her head. "There you are Ry-" she stopped when she saw me. "Arizona, what are you doing here?"

"I came to tell you that Ryan will be fifteen minutes late."

She frowned. "Why?"

"He needs his rest. And so do you." I peeked my head in the door and saw Michael's head leaned over his desk, drool dripping from his mouth onto a stack of papers. Victor was scribbling something down on a paper, his eyes closing then snapping open again. "All of you do. I don't know why whatever you are doing requires you to be working ridiculous hours but-"

She closed the door and stepped outside. "Can you just get Ryan? We don't want him alone."

I was puzzled. "Why?"

"Because. He should be with us."

"Zoey, he has a family you know."

"Just temporarily. Until we can figure this out, none of us should leave this office." She said quietly.

My face was getting hot. "I don't know what is so important but you all need rest, in a real bed."

"Just please go get him? One night. Two at the most. Please, I'm trying to keep him safe."

I rolled my eyes and turned around. I don't know why I was doing this. For some reason, I felt like I should.

Ryan was just finishing shaving when I got there. "Feel better?" I asked. He nodded weakly, he still wasn't fully rested, but he was ok. I kissed him on his freshly shaven cheek.

"They want you to spend the night. You might want to pack something."

"I'll be fine." He croaked.

He started walking out the door. "I love you." He said before he left. He sounded like it was the last time he was ever going to see me.

"I love you too." I replied as he walked out the door.

I went to bed that night worrying. I couldn't stop thinking about the way he said "I love you." Like he wanted it to be his last words. He said them with a passion and a sorrow. He took in my face like it was the last thing he would ever see. I was worried. What were they really doing in that office?

The thoughts finally drifted from my mind and I fell back asleep.

***

I heard sobbing and screaming coming from the front doors. I walked over to see what the commotion was. Beatrice was standing on top of one of her school buses, a bloody machete in her hand.